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After leaving the Sky Garden, Shen He still felt somewhat dazed.
Semiramis lingered in his thoughts—an enchantress of such allure was a direct challenge to any man's moral bottom line.
But…
Shen He knew clearly: if he had actually succumbed to lust back there, the consequences would've been catastrophic.
Semiramis had never held back disdain for men who fawned over her beauty. The last one ended up poisoned—quietly and fatally.
On the contrary, the less attention one paid her, the more intrigued she became.
Shen He also understood that Semiramis's willingness to help him—much like Jeanne's gentle loyalty—stemmed from her role as a summoned spirit. It was not love, but a unique, complex bond between master and Servant rooted in Chaldea's dual framework: the Chinese and Italian systems.
Thinking that the Empress had actually fallen for him? That would be naĂŻve.
Heroic Spirits weren't bound by human conventions. Their logic was a construct beyond reason.
Sighing, Shen He forcibly redirected his imagination from Semiramis to a more innocent outlet—like convincing Jeanne to try on stockings that evening.
---
Because Semiramis had seen through Shen He's true intentions, her demeanor shifted subtly.
The change wasn't drastic, but she stopped demanding absolute dominance.
Still, she held the reins—just a little looser.
That alone won her favor with many. Where others had encountered an imposing and uncooperative tyrant, Shen He now found a potential ally. Her willingness to negotiate seemed to follow from their private conversation.
Word leaked from within the virtual reality company: it was Shen He's persuasion that brought about this shift.
His authority within Chaldea appeared more formidable than outsiders assumed.
The first to benefit? Stark Industries.
Sky Garden officially handed off their entire urban energy infrastructure project to Stark Industries. In exchange, they requested a clean, uninitialized copy of J.A.R.V.I.S.'s source code—a nascent artificial intelligence, yet to be activated or shaped.
Huby's team analyzed the code and confirmed it had no hidden backdoors. That newborn AI was selected as the new central processor for the virtual company's management core.
Tony Stark was pleased.
His company's future strategy centered around clean energy anyway, and this high-profile alliance boosted their global prestige.
Control over energy also granted Tony a seat at the table in the growing Sky Garden system.
That day, he visited Shen He's office again.
"Tony," Shen He said, cocky as ever, "You might be smarter than me, but no one masters every profession. Even you—and forget Valli—couldn't handle someone like Semiramis. She's not someone you conquer with charm or cash."
Tony scowled. "You think you're better at this than me? Try flirting with Bibi next time."
As a seasoned playboy, being mocked by Shen He hit a nerve.
"Point is," Shen He shrugged, "If you want your company to thrive, you'd better learn to coexist with the Empress. Don't expect me to play go-between forever."
"Pepper runs most of the business now," Tony replied smoothly, not even blinking. "If you've got Semiramis under control, I've got nothing to worry about."
Shen He grinned at the casual denial, then got serious.
"About what we discussed—visiting the Ancient One—I think it's time. We should leave soon."
"You're leading this mission," Tony said. "But I still don't believe that in today's world, anyone can truly ignore capital. Unless, of course, they're actual immortals who don't care about earthly matters."
"We'll see," Shen He replied. "Best case scenario? They assign us a liaison mage. Worst case? Things get messy. But I doubt it'll come to that."
Gu Yi was powerful, yes—but that was mostly legend.
Shen He had no clear grasp of her actual strength. Still, self-doubt wouldn't help.
Power was always the real currency in negotiations.
"Alright," Tony said with a shrug, "I'm in. When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow," Shen He replied. "And we're bringing Thor."
Tony frowned. "Why? He's the Prince of Asgard—how does that help us with Earth's mages?"
"It's not about rank," Shen He said. "It's about presence. The Ancient One and Asgardians are both arrogant. They won't respect each other unless they see power firsthand. If a conflict arises, Thor could act as a buffer."
Shen He had little understanding of the multiverse or the ancient cosmic entities tied to magic.
Even the original Marvel timeline only hinted at the magnitude of their power.
---
The next day, Thor arrived—girlfriend in tow.
"You really like Earth, huh?" Shen He greeted him. "Heard you took a trip to China."
"Absolutely," Thor said with a grin. "Jane loved it. We even bought a villa near West Lake. If I didn't have to repair the Bifrost, I'd live there for centuries."
Jane, however, grew quiet at that comment.
Being in love with a 1,500-year-old god reminded her of the painful distance between their worlds.
"There will be more chances," Shen He said casually, though he noted the tension. The odds of this relationship lasting were slim.
Very few people truly loved deeply enough to overcome that kind of divide.
That's why he appreciated Jeanne so much.
Still, he didn't say any of this aloud—people in love rarely listen.
"Let's go," Thor said, holding Jane close. "I've never met Earth's mages before."
Shen He blinked. "Wait… you're bringing Jane?"
Thor looked between them. "You said we're going to Kathmandu, right? She's always wanted to see the Himalayas."
"…Right." Shen He said nothing more. Thor clearly thought this was a sightseeing trip.
Which wasn't surprising—he'd just won a war and was basking in love. His guard was down.
They boarded the virtual reality company's jet and flew to Nepal.
---
Kamar-Taj was nestled in Kathmandu.
Shen He, remembering Doctor Strange, knew this place had once been a simple Himalayan village. Over time, under Gu Yi's guidance, it became a mystic sanctuary—home to monks and wizards, guardians of secret realms.
Kathmandu had its own charm.
After living in a modern metropolis for so long, its quiet, low buildings and spiritual atmosphere were refreshing.
Thor and Jane treated it like a honeymoon—shopping, eating, and snapping photos like tourists.
Shen He didn't mind. He had Jeanne.
Tony, however, stood awkwardly alone, the odd man out.
"Guys, it's almost noon," he finally grumbled. "I took a whole day off for this."
"Relax." Shen He nodded toward a cloaked figure walking their way.
The man wore a hooded black robe, his face partially hidden. The style resembled Chaldean garb—functional but worn.
"Mr. Shen," the man said, revealing a dark-skinned face. "The Ancient One sends her regards. My name is Mordo."
"Greetings, Master Mordo," Shen He replied.
He'd expected Gu Yi to notice their arrival. Now came her response.
Ignore. Confront. Or receive them.
Shen He had anticipated each possibility.
"This place is fascinating," Thor added. "Anything else to explore?"
"Of course, Son of Odin," Mordo said with a slight bow. "Kathmandu has a rich history. I'll gladly be your guide."
"Then—" Thor started, pleased with the respect—
"Thor," Tony interrupted, frustrated, "We're not here to play. You can tour with Jane later."
People barely acknowledged Tony here. Most eyes were fixed on Jeanne.
"Tony's right," Shen He agreed, refocusing. "We're here to meet the Ancient One."
"Please follow me," Mordo said, prepared and unfazed.
Shen He noted that despite his polite tone, Mordo didn't show awe or curiosity—not even toward the famed Lord of Chaldea.
Was it ignorance… or overconfidence?
Expressionless, Shen He followed with Jeanne.
They stopped before an unremarkable wooden door. Shen He wasn't surprised—it matched the movie version exactly.
He pushed the door open.
The interior was stunning for such a humble entrance—ancient Chinese elegance infused with spiritual calm. Incense lingered in the air. Candles flickered.
And there stood Gu Yi.
Wearing golden robes, bald and radiant, she looked ageless. Her eyes held ancient wisdom, and her rolled sleeves gave her the look of a warrior monk.
She smiled.
The simplicity of the moment caught Shen He off guard.
Should he offer a handshake? Greet her with reverence?
Before he decided, Gu Yi looked straight at Jeanne and spoke.
"Incredible. You've transcended the flesh. Your will persists eternally. This body is holy—blessed beyond belief."
"All glory to the Lord," Jeanne replied with grace, though she sensed an unsettling presence beneath Gu Yi's surface.
Darkness, tainted and subtle.
"Master Gu Yi," Shen He said, "I believe you already know why we've come."
"I do," she replied, turning to him now. "Come, sit. Let's talk over tea. We have time."
"…Alright," Shen He said, glancing around.
There was no tea. No seats.
But Gu Yi lifted her hands.
Reality cracked and twisted like a kaleidoscope. Space bent, unfolded, and expanded. In a heartbeat, the tiny room transformed into a vast hall—tea set steaming on the table.
"Spatial manipulation?" Thor blinked, visibly rattled. "I barely grasped the theory in childhood. I gave up trying to learn it."
He had underestimated the Earth's mages. So had Jane, who gasped.
"Please," Gu Yi said, offering seats, unreadable as ever.
Shen He's brow twitched.
He suddenly realized: this was a mage who'd mastered the art of making an entrance.
He might have just met his match.
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